Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Russian court on Monday opened the trial of a theater director and a playwright accused of advocating terrorism in a play, the latest step in an unrelenting crackdown on dissent in Russia that has reached new heights since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.
Zhenya Berkovich, a prominent independent theater director, and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk have been jailed for over a year. Authorities claim their play “Finist, the Brave Falcon” justifies terrorism, which is a criminal offense in Russia punishable by up to seven years in prison. Berkovich and Petriychuk have both repeatedly rejected the accusations against them.
Berkovich told the court on Monday that she staged the play in order to prevent terrorism, and Petriychuk echoed her sentiment, saying that she wrote it in order to prevent events like those depicted in the play.
Related articles
Election 2024: Biden and Trump bypassed the Commission on Presidential Debates
PHOENIX (AP) — The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which has planned presidential fa2024-05-21Wondrous Xinjiang: Project renovating old residences revitalizes ancient city
(Xinhua) 10:26, March 18, 2024Local resident Abdukader Mamtimin makes rose tea at his tea house in a2024-05-21Pilot carbon sink trading yields profit, eco benefits in rural China
(Xinhua) 16:38, January 26, 2024XIAMEN, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- There was considerable excitement among2024-05-21Outbound tourism growth, inbound recovery projected
By Cheng Si (China Daily) 13:10, February 02, 2024A police officer at an immigration inspection stat2024-05-21Socialite Jasmine Hartin enjoys beach snuggle with electrician hunk
Socialite Jasmine Hartin has been seen enjoying a beach snuggle with her new mystery man.Ms Hartin w2024-05-21China's road logistics price index dips
(Xinhua) 14:13, January 29, 2024BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's road logistics price index edge2024-05-21
atest comment